Scion of Sorcery: The Avenger of Hogwarts: A Harry Potter/Avengers/Doctor Strange Crossover Fanfiction
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters: all rights belong to JK Rowling. I do not own Doctor Strange, Avengers or any of its associated characters: all rights belong to Stan Lee and Marvel. I do not own any other crossover references used in the story: all rights belong to their original creators. I do own any OC spells explained at the end of a chapter.
Plot: Harrison Strange, Son of Stephen Strange and Lily Potter, never bonded to his relic. But that didn't stop him walking down a path filled with magic, wonder, adventure, challenges and a heaping helping of fun, games and chaos.
Author's Note: So, I know I've tried this several times before now, but, this time, I am 1000000% certain that I have the idea and, weirdly, I found it by removing something from the original version that, I'm sure a lot of people will agree, was probably unnecessary at all.
So, let's see what sort of fun and games we can have and, fingers crossed, this time, we have a winner.
And, as always, if you don't like it, don't read it.
Added Note: For anyone wondering, this is basically an alternate adventure of the original 'Scion of Sorcery' story, which can be found on my profile. The AU of the adventure will start from Chapter 8 of the original – the chapter titled A Hero Returns – and, as it says in the summary, the only real change from events before that chapter is that Harry never bonded to the relic in that story – the Eyes of Horus – but everything else that happened up to that point in the story is canon for this one too.
ALSO, because I KNOW people will whine and moan about it, I'll say it regardless.
In this story, Harry WILL be incredibly-powerful, as well as talented with magic and magical abilities – hello? He's Doctor Strange's son and heir, as well as the heir of the Peverell Dynasty AND in possession of the power of the Potters AND he was trained and guided by said Doctor too, so why wouldn't he be so powerful? – and he'll also have a sarcastic, comedic attitude – duh! He spent time with Stephen and the Avengers, especially the REAL Avenger Hero, Tony Stark – and show a great deal of disrespect towards British ways, beliefs and even willingly kept his name as Strange, not Potter, so…
Anyway, if you still can't get over that, like a lot of people couldn't with V1, then a word of advice:
DON'T READ ON!
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to everyone who enjoyed the original version of this story: my recommended reads are Trickshot, Reborn, Raven, Widow's Vengeance and Wands and Claws by JustBored21, Man of Iron, Child of Magic and Child of Iron, Goblet of Fire by Zathara001, Master Potter of Kamar-Taj by Ryuko monogatari, Child of the Storm and Ghosts of the Past by Nimbus Llewelyn, Harry Potter: Wizard of Kamar-Taj by Trace Carter, The Rise of the Last Potter by HPfanfictioner66, Harry Potter and the Lightning Lord and Saviour of Magic by Colt01, Knight Errant and Harry Potter and the Shadow of the Demon by ArlyssTolero, Harry Potter The Protector of Magic by TigerSwarm9122, Two Sides to Every Galleon by GJWickham and Magical Origins by Dante 2K-25
Key Pairings: Harry/Daphne; Stephen/Christine;
Other Pairings: Tony/Pepper; Thor/Jane; Others TBD
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Chapter 1: The Harry Who Returned
The Story So Far…
Due to a strange twist of fate, as well as a time of darkness, confusion and what seemed like a chance encounter, Lily Potter wound up having a one-night stand with an unknown sorcerer, Doctor Stephen Strange; a man whom she later learned was the Sorcerer Supreme, the most-powerful sorcerer on Planet Earth.
As a result of this unusual occurrence, however, Lily bore a child, whom, after much apologising and deal-making, she was able to christen Harrison 'Harry' James Strange-Potter, Blood-Adopted Son of her husband, James, and actual son and heir of the Sorcerer Supreme.
When Voldemort attacked on Halloween Night, a strange series of circumstances, as well as the will of Magic itself, saw Harry defeat Voldemort, only to lose his Mother and adoptive Father.
However, an edict handed down from Rameses Wulfgarden, the Archmage of the ICW, saw Harry taken from Godric's Hollow and, instead of being raised by the Dursleys in a life filled with lies and hatred, he was instead raised in a life full of magic, mystery, wonder and, above all else, family who LOVED him and told him the truth – eventually – about himself and his past, present and future.
He was raised by his Father, the Sorcerer Supreme, as well as Wong and the other Masters and trainee sorcerers in the Sanctuaries, and the central hub of Kamar-Taj. It was also during this strange twist of fate that Harry was discovered to share a strange connection with a spirit of magic whom called herself Mana, a thunderbird with exceptional magical power and a strong, protective streak when it came to her little hatchling.
Over the next ten years, Harry lived with Stephen, as well as Dr Palmer – whom Harry later 'convinced' Stephen to further his relationship with and, eventually, even married, becoming Harry's step-mother – and, on occasion, Stephen's friends and allies in the Avengers. He also told Harry the truth about his identity and, to his relief, Stephen was accepted by Harry as his Father.
As a result of this acceptance, Harry also chose, willingly, to take the Strange name permanently, becoming Harrison Strange, student of the Craft, who learned from the very best: Stephen and, on occasion, where his 'other' magic was concerned, Archmage Wulfgarden himself.
Now, at age 11, the boy-mage now known as Harrison Strange MUST return to Britain to attend Hogwarts – a rule in the edict made by Rameses when Harry was first protected – where a large number of trials await him, as well as the mystery of his destiny.
Who is he, really?
What is he truly capable of?
Was it just a coincidence that saw his Mother and Father conceive him?
And what sort of path will he forge for himself as the Son of the Sorcerer Supreme?
Let's find out, True Believers! (1)
Scion
Although he'd visited the country from time to time, mostly whenever his lessons meant he would study within the walls of the London Sanctuary, Harry couldn't deny that he still felt a little weird having to return to Great Britain for his education. On top of the cultural differences he would have to deal with, there was the proverbial elephant in the room, which came in the form of the fact that his Father, Doctor Strange, was, apparently, a criminal in the British Magical World.
And after he'd saved their lives too: hypocrites!
That being said, even the dilemma of having to deal with his Father's false criminal status didn't force Harry to change his mind: thanks to what he had been taught by Master Rameses, his Father and even the letter from his Mother, he knew what it was he wanted to do whilst at Hogwarts and, now that the big day was here, Harry was determined to take care of it.
Any way he could.
On the morning of September First, Stephen used his Sling Ring to transport himself, Christine and Harry from their home in New York, the redheaded doctor accompanying them merely to see Harry off. As well as his adoptive Mother and his birth Father, Harry was thankful to discover that he was also accompanied by Mana, albeit in a pet carrier for obvious reasons, while the Strange Family – 'Literally,' Harry sometimes found himself thinking amusingly, as he realised how appropriate that term was for his family – stared in awe at the magnificence of the old interchange commonly known as King's Cross Station.
As he looked at the station, however, a frown crossed Harry's face as he asked, "I've gotta say it, Dad; I still don't get why they can't just let us Sling our way there, or even let me use my special Apparition-slash-teleporting powers to get there in no time. I mean, come on: I bet even Ilvermorny would let their students get there any way possible."
"True, but you also have to remember that this place won't be the same as Ilvermorny, Harry," replied Stephen, earning a nod from his son, though the discomfort at having to agree with that statement was as plain as the nose on Harry's face. At the same time, Stephen silently agreed with his son's point about how best to get to the school, while, at the same time, he also knew the one thing that would ease Harry's angst and annoyance, if only for now.
Clasping his son's shoulder, Stephen smiled at Harry's curious look as he reminded him, "However, remember, Harry: this first day is only to make sure that the edict's terms are fulfilled. After today, should you get the urge to leave and seek other pastures, you know full well that Rameses has arranged it with Principal Morrigan to leave you a place open just in case."
"I know, and part of me hates to admit it, Pops, but, hopefully, that won't be the case," mumbled Harry, earning a proud smile from Stephen while even Christine couldn't resist being proud of her adoptive son's inner strength.
Harry, meanwhile, sniffed once before he turned as he added, "I mean, it's bad enough that you can't even come with me, Dad: just because you are a supposed criminal to them…"
"Ah, but I've already taken care of that obstacle," chuckled Stephen, before Harry's eyes widened when his Father waved his hands up and down his body. Seconds later, the green-eyed, dark-haired form of the Sorcerer Supreme was replaced by a sandy-blonde-haired young man with light-blue eyes and, to Harry's amusement, a long red coat that looked oddly-similar to his Father's Cloak of Levitation.]
It even seemed to ripple in the air, like the Cloak was still sentient in its disguised form, while, as Harry stared at his Father in amazement, Stephen winked as he asked in his own voice, "You didn't think I'd let their prejudice stop me from seeing my son off on his first day, did you?"
Hugging his Father in response, Harry took both his and Christine's hands, with Christine holding onto the pet carrier containing Mana – whom Stephen had 'glamoured' to look like an ordinary bird to anyone looking at her – the three of them walked across the road and into the station, which, as Harry half-expected – being the British equivalent of Grand Central Station in New York City – was packed to the nines with comers and goers, some of whom looked a little curiously at Harry and his family as they walked into the station.
As they neared the spot where Archmage Wulfgarden had taken the liberty of explaining Harry would need to go, the Strange Heir adjusted the collar of his own coat while, next to him, Christine gripped his hand in hers as they made their way to the site of platform 9 ¾, departure point of the Hogwarts Express as it took them to the school.
The departure point, which could be found via passing through a barrier located at the central-most point between platforms nine and ten.
Stopping before the aforementioned barrier point, Harry gulped hard, clenching and unclenching his fist before, looking to his parents, he hugged Christine warmly, earning a soft kiss to his brow from his adopted Mother.
"You go first," said Stephen, earning a nod from Harry, who took Mana from Christine for added reassurance, before he turned and walked straight through the barrier, vanishing from sight a few seconds later.
"Ready?" asked Stephen.
"Let's hurry," replied Christine, picking up the pace quickly as they both ran through the platform; to Stephen's relief, his glamour stayed intact too.
On the other side, Harry felt a smile cross his face as he saw his parents pass through the barrier behind him, bringing all three of them onto the platform, which, like the main station, was already full of students and their parents, as well as the star of the show, figuratively-speaking.
It was a beautiful, olden-days-looking scarlet steam engine, which blew thick, ghostly-grey clouds of smoke from its front stack, each one of the clouds drifting through the air and out into the world through the opening at the far end. Along the platform, Harry noticed many different-looking men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds moving to and from the train, some of them showing a front that looked like nobility while others were excited, nervous, anxious and even in awe of the train itself.
"It's beautiful," whispered Christine, earning nods from the two men, before Christine looked down at Harry as she asked, "Shall we see if you can get a compartment to yourself? It's going to be a long ride, Harry."
"I know," said Harry.
As they went to leave, however, Harry was a little surprised to find their path being blocked by what looked like a train station guard, who looked the young boy up and down before, turning his attention to the parents, he asked in a surprisingly-harsh voice, "Excuse me, but what are you doing here? This side is for…"
"Wizards," finished Harry, reaching into his pocket before he withdrew his Hogwarts letter; handing it to the guard, Harry explained, "And, as you can see, sir, I am one. I can even pull a rabbit out of a hat if you want proof. Just give me your hat and I'll grab Bugs and Lola."
"Now, now, Harry, be polite," said Stephen, placing a hand on his son's shoulder as he explained, "It's not this gentleman's fault that we look more like members of the No-Maj community because you didn't want to come here wearing your robes. My apologies for my son, sir: he's excitable, but a bit of a practical joker at times."
"Meh, I've seen 'em all, mate," replied the guard, inspecting the letter before he hummed, "All right; but when you two come back this way, come and speak to me. We need to make sure that nobody else from…your side sees something they shouldn't."
"Understood, good day, sir," replied Christine, quickly taking Harry's hand before she guided him and an amused Stephen to the train.
Once they were out of earshot of the guard, Harry let his disdain show before he scoffed, "Damnit, I knew I'd have to deal with their racist crud against the No-Maj and First-Gens, but I'd have thought they'd at least have let me wait until I got to the school."
"Just imagine what he might have done had he been able to see the real me, not to mention the name this lot probably still choose to believe you're called, Harry," argued Stephen, earning a shrug from Harry, whom was thankful for his letter bearing his Strange surname and not the one he'd gained by being adopted in blood by James Potter.
Fortunately, Harry had a plan and, for as long as he could clench his teeth, grin and bear it, he'd see that plan fulfilled.
Meanwhile, now they were close to the train, Harry quickly scouted for an empty compartment; once he found it, he turned back to his parents, before he hugged them one more time, earning a tousling of his hair from Stephen while Christine kissed his cheek.
Harry wasn't even embarrassed.
They were his family, his Father was the most-powerful sorcerer on Planet Earth and his Mother was a renowned surgeon – which made Harry wonder why no other First-Gens had clocked onto her identity yet – so he allowed them their familial love of him, and he returned it in kind, as he too kissed Christine's cheek before he looked to them both.
"See you at Christmas?"
"If not sooner, knowing what they might think when they learn your surname and see what you're capable of," replied Stephen, his apathetic expression failing as he showed a true fatherly edge around his son and wife as he added, "In the meantime, remember, if you need anything, don't be afraid to use your Ring or teleport home, or back to Kamar-Taj."
"Though you should only need to come home in an absolute emergency, Harrison Strange," argued Christine, earning a salute from Harry that made his Mother scoff. "No cheek, young man, or you're not going to your Uncle Tony's annual Christmas Party."
"I'll be good, Ma'am," said Harry, earning a chuckle from Stephen while Christine sighed, shaking her head in amusement.
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Love me, feed me, never leave me," replied Harry, earning another chuckle from Christine as she kissed his brow before Stephen went on.
"Also, never forget, Harry: you are more-talented, more-powerful and a far-superior sorcerer than these others who'll be at school with you, but never forget that you represent not one, not two, but three great and powerful legacies."
"Potter, Peverell and Strange-Palmer," replied Harry.
"Palmer-Strange," said Christine immediately, earning a laugh from Harry as he looked down at the necklace around his neck, which had the three rings of his family legacies looped through the chain; the Heir Rings of the Potter and Peverell Families – both of which had been sent to him by a friend, who knows you'll need these one day – as well as Harry's own Sling Ring, just in case he ever found himself in a situation where he had to resort to Sorcery – the power taught to him by his Father, Wong and the other Masters of the Sanctuaries/Kamar-Taj – rather than Wizardry – the art of wand-waving and incantations – to help him.
"You had better be going, sweetheart," Christine told him, her eyes trying and failing to hold back tears of emotion as she said, "Have a great time and be sure to send word to us or visit and talk about how you're doing."
Again, Harry nodded before he turned and boarded the train, settling into an empty compartment.
After a brief moment to let himself get settled, Harry reached down and opened the carry case that contained Mana, his eyes shining as he watched his beautiful familiar spread her six wings before she slipped out, stretching her form and letting out a cry of elation as she looked up at him.
'Well…it's about time, little one: I was getting wing cramp in there.'
"Sorry, girl," said Harry, watching as Mana curled up in his lap, her small form – which, for reasons Harry couldn't understand, was still smaller than many other thunderbirds Harry had read about – easily settling in the embrace and comfort of her master.
As he started stroking Mana's beautifully-coloured feathers, Harry smiled as he explained, "I didn't want the No-Maj's asking questions that I couldn't answer without endangering their precious Statute of Secrecy."
Even as he said the words, Harry felt a look of amusement cross his face as he considered the fact that this journey alone would take as long as he'd heard that it would. Whereas, as he'd said to his Father, any real sorcerer could just transport themselves there with the aid of magic.
Methods such as the use of Sling Rings, teleporting – or the wizard version, known as Apparition – as well as Floo Gates and even the items known as Portkeys: any number of these things could all be used to get the students to Hogwarts in minutes, if not certainly much sooner than this journey was going to take.
And yet, for some crazy, insane reason that'd even confuse his favourite uncle, the British Magical World preferred the use of a beautiful, but still outdated train that would probably take somewhere between six-to-seven hours to reach their destination.
With that in mind, Harry wouldn't be that surprised to find it getting dark by the time he reached the station at the other end of the tracks, but, despite his thoughts on the matter, he allowed himself to put those thoughts aside as he looked back to his familiar, who rubbed her beak against his fingers as he petted her, while she spoke with him.
'That's all right, but, even so, what happens when we get to the school? What will you do when they ask you why you don't have a simple owl, a filthy cat or a warty toad as your companion?'
"What do you think, Mana? I'm going to tell them the truth, obviously," answered Harry, tickling Mana under her feathered chin, which earned him a trill of contentment from her as he added, "That you're my familiar, which you are, magically-born and blessed, in fact. Therefore, just like Master Rameses told me when I asked him, the rule about owls, cats and toads can be overlooked because the bond between a true sorcerer and their familiar is beyond deep…and just as sacred as the reverence and faith in Magic herself."
'If half the stories we've heard are true, they won't accept that,' advised Mana, earning a scoff from Harry.
"Mana, once they see what I'm capable of, this world might not even accept me, especially when they learn, if not figure out, I'm Dad's son," argued the Strange Heir, his voice filled with amusement as he added, "Both Dad and Master Rameses told me that it'd be wrong for me to hide what I'm capable of and, for whatever reason, girl, you're part of that amazing arsenal. So, whatever they might have to say, they can take it up with the two most powerful magical forces on Planet Earth: the Sorcerer Supreme, their so-called criminal, and, if that fails, then we go Big Time and bring in the Archmage of the Mystic Assembly known as the International Confederacy of Wizards."
Again, Mana trilled while Harry looked down at her as he added, "And, if that failed, we've always got the nuclear option."
'You don't mean…' asked Mana, a note of pained disbelief in her words as she buried her head under one wing, as though the very idea frightened even her to hear her little one consider such a move.
"Why do you think I call it the nuclear option?" asked Harry, petting Mana before he stroked her under her chin again, forcing her to come out and look up at him again as he smiled. "Anyway, even if they did make something of it, I think it's stupid for them to judge me by their standards: after all, I've spent nearly ten years away from Magical Britain, away from the corrupt influences of their Ministry, the former supporters of their stupidly-named, so-called Dark Lord Voldemort and the backwards beliefs in real magic that this country has."
'They might call you a disgrace for this,' Mana warned him, earning another scoff from Harry before she asked, 'What if they decide to target you by invoking the honour of your late Mother and adoptive Father?'
"Then, in that event, given that the only one who should know my other identity is Dumbledore himself, but, if that happens and they try and go down that road, they won't give me any other choice…I'll seal them in the Mirror Dimension," answered Harry, as though it was the most-obvious thing in the world.
Mana could only laugh in response, before Harry chuckled with an almost-sinister air, which seemed to be reflected in his emerald-green eyes, which shone like lightning in his face as he added, "Then we'll watch as they bitch and moan about their superiority. But then, well…let's see them use their real magic get them out of a plane of existence that has no ties to their medieval ways!"
As Mana laughed again, the son of the Sorcerer Supreme looked down to his familiar before he asked, "On a similar note, girl, if I have to leave you alone while I'm in their lessons, will you be okay?"
'Even if we are physically separated, I can and will always be close to you, little one,' replied Mana, looking up at Harry with her bright blue eyes as she explained, 'Our bond was forged by Lady Magic herself, uniting my legacy of greatness with the power that makes you equal to and greater than even the Sorcerer Supreme, much less the Grand Master. No supposed restraints will keep me from you if you should ever need me.'
As Harry took in his familiar's response, he took a moment to notice how, outside their compartment, he could hear people flitting about, trying to find spare seats as well as old companions, some of them sounding like they were discussing topics that didn't really concern him while, once or twice, Harry thought he heard his name – well, his adoptive name, which he'd willingly chosen to forsake in favour of his true identity as the Strange Heir, with his plan in mind for the future of said name – mentioned, but he drowned it out.
Finally, after what seemed like a long time – but was, in reality, twenty minutes after the train set off – Harry received his first visitor when a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
As he watched, the door opened revealing a young, somewhat-handsome boy with dark hair and brown-coloured eyes that seemed to be filled with an element of strength that made Harry smile to himself.
He didn't know why, but there was something oddly-familiar about the boy, and his strength was nothing to shy away from either.
'He'd certainly be welcome at home,' thought Harry, noticing how the boy was already dressed in his Hogwarts robes – while Harry was still wearing his mundane clothes – while Harry also noticed a brand-new trunk as well as a cage that carried a beautiful-looking snowy owl being pulled behind the boy as he looked in on the compartment. "Hi…sorry, do you mind if I join you?"
"Of course not," replied Harry, indicating the seat across from him as he added, "Come in, take a seat: I'm Harry."
"Neville," said the boy, earning a slightly-stunned look from Harry while, at the same time, Neville's eyes widened further than Harry's as he caught sight of Mana lying next to Harry, her own blue eyes watching him curiously, even as the other boy gestured to her, "Wow! Sorry, but is…is that what…is that a…"
"Thunderbird," finished Harry, stroking Mana's feathers as he added, "And yes; she's my familiar, which is why I don't have an owl, cat or a toad."
"Wow," repeated Neville, placing his trunk in the overhead storage area before he sat down, placing the owl cage next to him as he said, "Well, um, this…this is Hedwig: she's my owl, but still…wow. To be able to recognise your bond with a familiar at our age: that's pretty strong magic, Harry."
Shrugging in response, Harry smiled before, deciding to take a leap of faith given what he'd noticed when his companion introduced himself, his brow furrowed in apparent confusion as he asked, "Hey…you said your name's Neville: that wouldn't be Neville Longbottom, would it?"
"Err…yes," answered Neville, looking now to Harry before he asked, "Good guess, but what about you?"
"Harry S…" Harry began, but, as he went to say it, he cut himself off with a small smile as he figured that, given what he knew of Neville and his birth Mother's old connections, he could take another leap of faith with his former identity.
No matter how hard he may try, he wasn't going to be able to convince too many people to use his other name anyway, especially not since his Dad was, apparently, a criminal in the British Magical World for being a No-Maj with magical knowledge and abilities.
Abilities they'd only call Dark Magic anyway, he didn't hesitate to add.
So, for arguments' sake, he might as well be the boy he was and the Sorcerer Supreme's Heir at the same time.
With his decision made, Harry cleared his throat as he corrected himself. "My name was Harry Potter; but it's not my name now. But, since you'd probably not accept me for my other name, then that's who I am, I guess…well, to you, it can be, anyway."
As he'd half-expected, Harry saw Neville's eyes widen as he introduced himself, his jaw dropping before, as he looked at Harry, he asked, "Is…is that really you, Harry? I…I've heard things about you from…from my guardian, but…wow…meeting you here…now…I never expected this!"
He gestured to Harry as he said it, but the other boy just smiled, waving it off before he asked, "You said your guardian told you about me? So…not your parents?"
"No," said Neville, sniffing sadly, earning a slightly guilty look from Harry in the process, as he explained, "My…my Mum and Dad are dead: they died in a revenge raid by Death Eaters shortly after…after your family's home was attacked on Halloween Night ten years ago. Mum was tortured beyond all reasoning before…before she succumbed to death and Dad…they left him to burn from a curse that…that left him weakening day by day. He fought back, though, but…but he died four years ago and…and by then, my guardian had taken me in."
"I'm sorry," said Harry, a part of him hating how tactless he'd been in asking about Neville.
As for the other boy, he waved off the apology, "Don't be: I mean, my guardian treats me as though I am his son, but…but, if there's one thing I know about him, it's that, compared to you, I'm still only his ward."
"Why?" asked Harry, a tear rolling down his cheek as he heard Neville tell his story before he asked, "Who…who raised you, Neville?"
"Your godfather, Sirius Black," replied Neville, earning a shocked look from Harry, which was mostly because of how he'd only heard a few tales of his godfather, and those were only ghosts of memories he'd gotten back thanks to his Mother's final gift to him.
Neville, meanwhile, blushed hard before he licked his lips as he explained, "And…and don't get me wrong, Harry; I…I'm grateful to Sirius for doing it, because…because my Great-Uncle's busy with his Ministry business and Gran…she went into a depressive spiral after Mum and Dad died, but…but I keep getting the feeling Sirius only did it because…"
"Mum and James were friends with your parents," said Harry, earning a sad nod from Neville before, to his surprise, the green-eyed boy then shook his head as he spat in a fierce, almost-venomous tone, "What a load of old dragon crap!"
Snapping his head up, Neville gulped as he asked, "W-W-What did you just say?"
"He might be my godfather, but even I know Sirius didn't raise you to replace me, be a double of me or anything like that," insisted Harry, smiling softly as he calmed his storm before he explained, "I mean, all right, I was only a baby when I last saw him, but from what I've hear, he's a man of honour, pride and easily the biggest kid in Britain."
"He is that," laughed Neville, shaking his head as he explained, "Half the things he gets up to and the stories he tells: they always make me laugh."
"And he's also someone who won't abandon those who mean the world to him," continued Harry, earning an awed look from Neville as he said, "As you said, I'm his godson and that's an important role in its own right, maybe. But, from what I heard, Sirius didn't come after me because, like Mum and like James and a few others, including your parents, Magic bless them, he knew I was in the safest place possible…and I was."
"So I see," agreed Neville, indicating Harry, and how strong, confident and even mature – with a side order of Tony-Stark-worthy humour – as he added, "You're going to turn more than a few heads with those looks of yours, Harry: and…I'm sorry to ask this given what we just talked about, but…why do you call James Potter…his name? He was your Dad…"
"Actually, and Sirius knows this too, but…he wasn't, which is why I was going to say something else before I told you my surname, brother," said Harry, earning a stunned look from Neville as he explained, "Sorry. It's just, I know we were once as close as brothers and we were born on the same day. Also, when…when she left something for me, my Mum even called you my brother, so, because Sirius already knows this and because of that friendship that I hope to keep going now that we're both here, I'll rust you with the truth."
"Oh…o-okay," said Neville, swallowing hard as he asked, "Do…do you need a wizard's oath of silence or…"
"No," answered Harry before Neville gasped as the young sorcerer placed a hand against the door and, as Neville watched, Harry drew a mystical rune onto the pane of glass on the door that seemed to vanish instantaneously.
"What…what was that?" asked Neville.
In response, Harry smiled as he answered, "Think of it as a Fidelius Charm, but as a rune: anything discussed in this compartment stays between us unless I give you my permission to tell others; we can still talk about it, but you can't tell anyone else or talk about it with others in earshot."
"That's powerful magic, Harry," gasped Neville, earning another laugh from Harry as he looked to Neville.
"Actually, the preferred term, Neville, is sorcery, but I digress," explained Harry, earning a curious look from his honorary brother before Harry cleared his throat as he told him, "You see, my real Father is the man who has raised me for the past ten years and made me the wizard…excuse me, I mean the sorcerer that I am today. And his name is Doctor Stephen Strange, also known as the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth and, nothing against certain Headmasters or Alchemists or even Archmagi, but he is the most-powerful Sorcerer on the planet…for the time being, anyway."
Hearing the truth straight from the horse's mouth, figuratively-speaking, Neville's eyes widened in disbelief and, as they did so, he gulped hard before he asked, "I…I've heard that name before, but is…isn't he a criminal?"
"Only to the British Ministry because they see him as nothing more than a No-Maj that discovered the Mystic Arts, aka real magic, through study and practice," said Harry, his choice of words earning another curious and confused look from Neville before Harry added, "Sorry, I forgot: cultural differences. You see, you'd call him a Muggle, but I don't: American upbringing and all that."
"Wow," whispered Neville, looking for a moment to Mana before he asked, "And is…is that why you have a familiar, Harry? Because your Father's so…so powerful as a sorcerer?"
'That is part of the reason, Neville Longbottom,' answered Mana, earning a stunned look of shock from Neville while Harry smiled as he saw his familiar lift her head, her eyes on Neville as she told him, 'My apologies for startling you; I do not give my voice to everyone, but my little one trusts you enough with his true identity, so I shall grant you the same privilege.'
"Wow," whispered Neville, earning a laugh from Harry.
"You know, you seem to have a bad habit for saying that," explained the raven-haired sorcerer, earning an awestruck look from Neville as he indicated his avian friend before he continued, "Mana's a special kind of familiar, Neville: truth is that even I don't much understand where she came from, but she's been a part of my life for as long as I've been under the care of my true Father and his colleagues and students."
"S-s-students?" asked Neville, "He…he's a teacher, Mr…"
"Doctor," corrected Harry, smirking as he imagined what would come next in any other circumstance "Doctor Strange is the master of the hidden training school for the Masters of the Mystic Arts, headed by the Sorcerer Supreme, my Father, and the place that has been my home for the better part of the last ten years."
"W…Merlin's beard," gasped Neville, looking to the door of their compartment before he asked, "And he taught you to cast that rune?"
"And more," laughed Harry, his eyes shining as he sat down with Mana, who rested her head on his lap while he explained, "But unlike my other identity, I'm afraid I need to be sure you're safe to learn the truth of what I can really do and, for that, you're going to need time, Neville."
"I…I understand," said Neville, rubbing the back of his neck before he asked, "But there's one thing I don't understand, Harry."
"What's that?"
"If you have all this power, what are you doing back here where they'll try and suppress it?" asked Neville, earning a cocky snigger from Harry.
"The key word there, brother-mine," drawled Harry, his eyes shining while his magic seemed to fill the air as he smiled like the cat that ate the canary, his voice ringing with amusement and purpose as he looked to his honorary sibling.
"Is try!"
Wow, so the adventure begins and, while most of it looks familiar, it seems there is a change in the air, but what sort of fun, madness and interests await Harry as he nears Hogwarts and prepares to face his destiny?
Also, is Harry right about people continuously choosing to prefer to name him as Harry Potter and not Harrison Strange?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harry and Neville meet a couple more familiar faces, while the Longbottom Heir and Black Ward has a few more questions for Harry, which helps set the scene for a friendship that seems a hell of a lot more unbreakable than the joke of a best friend JK gave Harry: for one thing, I highly doubt Sirius will let Neville betray Harry because he's allegedly a Dark Wizard's son or because he might be in a Tournament he wanted nothing to do with, don't you?
Please Read and Review
AN: Same Difference
So, you might notice a couple of differences here and there and, admittedly, for the start anyway, some of this story is going to be similar to the original adventure, but as we progress, there will be changes later-on and new stuff after where the original ended.
Don't forget: the biggest change is that Harry does not have the Eyes of Horus this time, but that doesn't mean he's any-less powerful.
AN2: Portrayal
Stephen – under his glamour: Matt Ryan
(His voice is still Benedict Cumberbatch, though, but the first image I had in my head was DC's counterpart to Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme, John Constantine: weird? Maybe; do I care? Nope!)
Mana – voice: Amy Louise Pemberton
(Yeah, I decided to change it from the original: for those who don't know, the actress does the voice – and a couple of times, the portrayal – of Gideon from DC's 'Legends of Tomorrow' series: inspiration's weird, isn't it?)
AN (1)
RIP Stan Lee: The REAL Marvel hero to ALL generations: EXCELSIOR! (1922-2018)
(Given this story starts a little-ways into the original, I couldn't resist opening the story like this and ending with a shout-out to the immortal legend)